Removable safety guard for loading docks and platforms

ABSTRACT

A removable safety guard for loading docks, platforms and the like. The opposite ends of a flexible plastic cable are attached to an enclosed spring-loaded reel in which they are retracted when not in use. The reel enclosure is mounted on a main post disposed adjacent to one side of the protected area. A cable pull is used to unwind the cable from the reel and attach it to a terminal post disposed adjacent to the other side of the protected area. The cable provides two vertically spaced lengths of cable extending across the protected area. For larger widths, a removable intermediate post may be used.

United States Patent 1191 Ellis et al.

1 Oct. 8, 1974 REMOVABLE SAFETY GUARD FOR LOADING DOCKS AND PLATFORMS[75] Inventors: Lawrence D. Ellis; Laurence H.

Sheetz, both of Monrovia, Calif.

[73] Assignee: Lawrence D. Ellis, Ellis Industries,

South El Monte, Calif.

[22] Filed: Mar. 12, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 340,232

[52] US. Cl 49/34, 49/9, 242/l07.l3 [51] Int. Cl E0lf 13/00 [58] Fieldof Search 49/34, 9; 256/35, 37, 1;

[5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,157,505 10/1915 Cameron242/10741 1,241,364 9/1917 Ferris 1,792,294 2/1931 Fowler 1,832,81211/1931 Keenan 2,153,708 4/1939 Belsher 49/34 2,237,106 4/1941 Minert49/34 X 2,807,426 9/1957 Kelem et al 242/l00.1 2,827,265 3/1958 McKillop49/34 X 3,174,721 3/1965 Rissey 49/9 X 3,263,939 8/1966 Menkin242/l07.l3 X

Primary ExaminerDennis L. Taylor Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Robert C.Comstock [57] ABSTRACT A removable safety guard for loading docks,platforms and the like. The opposite ends of a flexible plastic cableare attached to an enclosed spring-loaded reel in which they areretracted when not in use. The reel en closure is mounted on a main postdisposed adjacent f to one side of the protected area. A cable pull isused to unwind the cable from the reel and attach it to a terminal postdisposed adjacent to the other side of the protected area. The cableprovides two vertically spaced lengths of cable extending across theprotected area. For larger widths, a removable intermediate post may beused.

5 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures REMOVABLE SAFETY GUARD FOR LOADING DOCKS ANDPLATFORMS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention Theinvention relates to a removable safety guard which is particularlyadapted for use on loading docks, platforms, runways and the like.

2. Description of the Prior Art Truck docks and other work and loadingplatforms have always been faced with difficult safety problems. At thepresent time, one common type of protective device which is in usecomprises a rigid pipe railing. The pipe railing is normally fabricatedonthe job site in three foot long sections, which are inserted in pipesockets in the platform. Longer pipe railing sections tend to bind whenbeing pulled out of or inserted into the sockets, so several shortersections are used. These sections of rail, when not in use, must bestored out of the way. They are usually leaned against a wall or acolumn of the building. A person bumping the stack of rail sections orpassing at the wrong time may have them fall, causing possible injury.

Another type of protective device is a chain or cable railing, which isusually fixed at one end and removably hooked at the other end. When therailing is opened for work, there is always a pile of loose chain orcable for personnel to trip over. Another problem with cable is that itmay fray, so that hands can be injured.

The various devices and expedients which are now in use accordinglycreate almost as many safety problems as they solve. They are expensive,difficult and awkward to use and do not provide an acceptable answer tothe problems of dock and platform safety for personnel, equipment andcargo.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention provides a removable safety guardfor loading docks and platforms which overcomes all of the problemspresented in previous devices. In essence, the invention contemplates aflexible plastic cable which is mounted on an enclosed spring-loadedreel on which it is retracted when not in use. When extended, the cableprovides two vertically spaced lengths of cable removably attached to afixed or removable vertical post located on the opposite side of thearea being protected. A removable intermediate post may also be used.

When the device is in use, the dock or loading platform is protected andguarded as completely and effectively as by the rigid railings, chainsor cables previously used. On the other hand, when the device is not inuse all of the parts are easily and conveniently stored completely outof the way of personnel, equipment and cargo. Complete safety isaccordingly provided.

The device provides with a minimum number of parts and manufacturingvariations a removable safety guard system which can be used onsubstantially every type or size of loading platform or dock.

The device of the present invention is more economisubstantiallypermanent but can easily be replaced if the need should arise.

If removable posts are used, storage means are provided so that safetyhazards are eliminated. There are no loose parts lying around to tripover or run over and no parts which can fall and cause injury.

It is accordingly among the objects of the invention to provide aremovable safety guard for loading docks, platforms and the like havingall of the advantages and benefits set forth above and describedhereinafter in this specification.

The invention also comprises such other objects, advantages andcapabilities as will later more fully appear and which are inherentlypossessed by'the invention.

While there are shown in the accompanying drawings preferred embodimentsof the invention, it should'be understood that the same are susceptibleof modification and change without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front elevational view on areduced scale of a safety guard in use on a loading dock, with thepossible positioning of a second cable reel shown in phantom lines;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the cable reel assembly taken on line 22of FIG; 1;

FIG. 3 is another sectional view of the. same, taken on line 33 of FIG.2;

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 3; 7

FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view of the upper cable receiving sleevein the intermediate post;

FIG. 6 is a partial sectional view of the pull, showing in elevation theflange for removably attaching the pull to the terminal post;

FIG. 7 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 7--7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a front elevational view showing two reels in use on a loadingdock connected to opposite sides of a central terminal post.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A preferred embodiment which hasbeen selected to illustrate the invention is adapted to be used .onsubstantially any type of truck, railroad, ship or airline loadingdocks, platforms, open sided floors, runways, etc. It may also be usedfor wall openings in warehouses, factories, etc. or any other placewhere a safety problem exists.

A vertically directed main post 10 is customarily permanently installedin the floor adjacent to one side of the platform 11 or other dock orwall opening being protected. The post 10 may be formed of any suitablematerial. Two inch square structural steel tubing has been foundparticularly satisfactory. The top of the post 10 is preferably closedby a rubber guard 10a to prevent personal injury and protect theinterior of the post from debris and moisture.

Mounted on the top of the main post 10 is a reel enclosure 12, which mayconveniently be formed of molded fiberglass material or other plastic ormetal material. Rotatably mounted within the reel enclosure 12 r is aspring loaded reel 13 of a conventional type which is available as aproduct of standard manufactureand which is well known in the art. Areel 13 having a diameter of l2 inches has been found satisfactory inuse.

The reel 13 is normally urged in one direction by an internal spring 14and can only be rotated in the opposite direction against the urging ofthe spring 14.

A pair of diametrically opposed U-bolts 15 or other suitable anchoringdevices, extend through one side of the reel 13, with their closed endsdisposed on the inside of the reel. Extending beneath the closed ends ofthe U-bolts 15 are the opposite ends of an elongated cable 16, which maybe formed of any suitable material. Twisted polypropylene having a V2inch diameter with high tensile'strength and an easily visible yellowcolor has been found particularly satisfactory in use. Such line has atensile strength of 4,400 lbs.

Each of the U-bolts 15 has a pair of threaded legs which are disposed onthe outside of the reel. Nuts threaded thereon may be loosened torelease the U bolts 15 and permit longitudinal adjustment of the lengthof the cable 16.

Within the top and bottom of the reel enclosure 12 are a pair of rightangular cable receiving guide tubes 17, which may conveniently be formedof metal. The ends of the cable 16 extend from the reel 13 through theguide tubes 17, the ends of which extend through openings in the frontof the reel enclosure 12.

The guide tubes 17 are circular in cross section and their sides arewelded to flanges 18 which are in turn welded to the inside of the backwall of the reel enclosure 12. The guide tubes 17 act to direct thecable 16 to and from the reel 13 and prevent'its opposite ends frombecoming entangled.

The guide tubes 17 are fixed, but the reel 13 is rotatably mounted on ashaft 19 which extends transversely through the reel enclosure 12 andthe main post 10. The bolt 20 which extends through the front of thereel enclosure 12 and into the end of the shaft 19 may be removed topermit removal of the front cover portion of the reel enclosure 12 toprovide access to the interior. The reel 13 has a central circular hub21, which encloses the spring 14. Both ends of the cable 16 wind aroundthe hub 21 in opposite directions in overlying relationship to eachother as the reel 13 is rotated. The sides of the reel 13 extendradially outwardly from the hub 21 a sufficient distance to hold thecable 16 on the reel 13 when the cable 16 is fully wound on the hub 21..

A terminal post 25, which may be formed substantially identical with themain post 10, is mounted adjacent to the opposite side of the area to beprotected. A terminal post 25 may be either permanently or removablymounted, as desired. The upper portion of the terminal post 25 isprovided with a pair of vertically spaced outwardly projecting pins 26which are disposed on one side of the terminal post 25.

The center of the cable 16 extends through an elongated U-shaped tubularcable pull 27, which may be formed of metal or other suitablesubstantially rigid material. Extending outwardly from the front edge ofthe pull 27 are a pair of flanges 28, each of which is provided with akeyhole slot 29. The keyhole slots 29 are dimensioned and arranged toremovably receive and engage the pins 26 on the terminal post 25. Thepull 27, flange 28 and keyhole slots 29 are shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 ofthe drawings.

When the device is not in use, the cable 16 is fully wound around thehub 21 of the reel 13 which is in turn disposed within the reelenclosure 12. The pull 27 is disposed directly adjacent to the reelenclosure 12, with its opposite ends abutting against the reel enclosure21 adjacent to and surrounding the openings through which the guidetubes 17 extend.

The spring 14 of the reel 13 acts to normally hold the cable 16 in fullyretracted position and to hold the pull 27 in the position described.

In order to place the safety guard in position for use, the user needonly exert sufficient force manually on the cable pull 27 to move itaway from the reel enclosure 12. As the pull 27 is moved away from thereel enclosure 12, both ends of the cable 16 are unwound from the hub 21of the reel 13 and the reel 13 is rotated against the urging of thespring l4. When the pull 27 reaches the terminal post 25, the keyholeslots 29 of the flanges 28 are fitted over the pins 26 on the terminalpost 25 and return movement of the pull 27 and cable 16 is prevented.

When removal of the safety guard is desired, the pull 27 is detachedfrom the terminal post 25 and the spring 14 will then automaticallyrewind both ends of the cable 16 simultaneously, moving the pull 27 backto its storage position adjacent to the reel enclosure 12.

If the width of the area to be protected is 8 feet or less, only asingle main post and a single terminal post are required. If the area tobe protected is wider, an intermediate post 30 of the type shown in FIG.1 of the drawings may be used. The intermediate post 30 is normallyremovably mounted in a socket 32 formed in the floor. The intermediatepost 30 is formed similarly to the previously described posts 10 and 25,but is provided with a pair of transversely directed tubular sleeves 31through which the cable 16 freely and slidably extends. The intermediatepost 30 and upper sleeve 31 are shown in FIG. 5.

In order to provide a clear working area when an intermediate post 30 isrequired, a storage socket 33 is provided adjacent to the main post 10(or terminal post 25). The intermediate post 30 may thus be moved fromits own socket 32 and stored in the storage socket 33 when not in use.

In order to cover a larger area, a series of main and terminal, or main,terminal and intermediate posts may be used in successive series. Thiscan easily be done by mounting a second reel enclosure on the oppositeside of the terminal post, as shown in phantom lines in FIG. 1 of thedrawings.

FIG. 8 of the drawings shows another alternative arrangement in which apair of main posts having reel enclosures are mounted on opposite sidesof the area to be protected, with both pulls being connected to a singlecentral terminal post, which may be removable. Intermediate posts mayalso be used with this arrangement, if required.

While any suitable dimensions may be used, it has been found for theprotection of personnel that a height of 21 inches from the ground issatisfactory for the lower portion of the cable 16 and 42 inches fromthe ground for the upper portion of the cable.

We claim:

1.. A safety guard for loading docks, platforms and the like comprisinga spring-loaded reel rotatably mounted adjacent to one side of the areato be protected, a cable having a pair of ends connected to said reel,said reel having a central circular hub, both ends of said cable beingwound around said hub from opposite directions in overlying relationshipto each other,

said reel having sides extending radially outwardly from said hub asufficient distance to hold said cable on said reel when said cable isfully wound on said reel, a cable pull connected to said cable remotefrom said ends, said cable pull being manually movable away from saidreel to unwind both ends of said cable from said reel simultaneously,and means engageable with said cable pull to hold said cable againstretraction on said reel, said cable when extended from said reelproviding a pair of vertically spaced lengths of cable extending acrossthe area to be protected.

2. The structure described in claim 1, said reel being mounted on avertically directed main post, said reel being mounted for rotationabout a horizontal axis, a terminal post spaced from said main postalong the area to be protected, said cable pull being engageable withmeans on said terminal post to prevent the retraction of said cable.

3. The structure described in claim 2, said reel being rotatably mountedwithin a reel enclosure, said reel enclosure being mounted on said mainpost, and guide means disposed within said reel enclosure for guidingthe ends of said cable to and from said reel and for verticallyseparating said cable lengths from each other when said cable isextended, said guide means comprising a pair of arcuate right angularguide tubes disposed adjacent to the top and bottom of said reelenclosure, said cable ends slidably extending through said guide tubes.

4. The structure described in claim 3, and an intermediate postremovably mounted between said main and terminal posts, saidintermediate post having means for slidably receiving both lengths ofsaid cable, and socket means disposed adjacent one of said first namedposts for storing said intermediate postwhen not in use.

5. The structure described in claim 3, said cable pull comprising anelongated U-shaped tubular member approximately equal in length to thedistance between said cable lengths when said cable is extended, saidcable comprising a single length of cable slidably extending throughsaid cable pull andhaving its opposite ends connected to said reel.

1. A safety guard for loading docks, platforms and the like comprising aspring-loaded reel rotatably mounted adjacent to one side of the area tobe protected, a cable having a pair of ends connected to said reel, saidreel having a central circular hub, both ends of said cable being woundaround said hub from opposite directions in overlying relationship toeach other, said reel having sides extending radially outwardly fromsaid hub a sufficient distance to hold said cable on said reel when saidcable is fully wound on said reel, a cable pull connected to said cableremote from said ends, said cable pull being manually movable away fromsaid reel to unwind both ends of said cable from said reelsimultaneously, and means engageable with said cable pull to hold saidcable against retraction on said reel, said cable when extended fromsaid reel providing a pair of vertically spaced lengths of cableextending across the area to be protected.
 2. The structure described inclaim 1, said reel being mounted on a vertically directed main post,said reel being mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis, a terminalpost spaced from said main post along the area to be protected, saidcable pull being engageable with means on said terminal post to preventthe retraction of said cable.
 3. The structure described in claim 2,said reel being rotatably mounted within a reel enclosure, said reelenclosure being mounted on said main post, and guide means disposedwithin said reel enclosure for guiding the ends of said cable to andfrom said reel and for vertically separating said cable lengths fromeach other when said cable is extended, said guide means comprising apair of arcuate right angular guide tubes disposed adjacent to the topand bottom of said reel enclosure, said cable endS slidably extendingthrough said guide tubes.
 4. The structure described in claim 3, and anintermediate post removably mounted between said main and terminalposts, said intermediate post having means for slidably receiving bothlengths of said cable, and socket means disposed adjacent one of saidfirst named posts for storing said intermediate post when not in use. 5.The structure described in claim 3, said cable pull comprising anelongated U-shaped tubular member approximately equal in length to thedistance between said cable lengths when said cable is extended, saidcable comprising a single length of cable slidably extending throughsaid cable pull and having its opposite ends connected to said reel.